Backlight Unit Distance Maintaining Portion Narrow Bezel

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Solution Overview

Problem

The reduction in bezel width of non-self-emissive display devices limits the available space for the backlight unit, leading to insufficient space for components and resulting in non-uniform brightness across the display area.

Innovation Solution

The design includes a backlight unit with a bottom cover, reflective sheet, light sources, a middle mold with a distance maintaining portion that spaces the diffusion plate from the optical sheets, and optical sheets to ensure uniform light distribution and prevent light leakage, thereby enhancing brightness uniformity across the display area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If the bezel width is reduced to meet market demand for narrow bezel display panels, then the aesthetic appearance and modern design are improved, but the available space for backlight unit components becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebezel widthVSAvoidavailable space for backlight unit components
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a distance maintaining portion that extends in the thickness direction (third direction) of the display panel to space the diffusion plate from optical sheets. This vertical dimensional approach allows component separation without increasing the horizontal bezel width, effectively resolving the space constraint caused by narrow bezel design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The backlight unit is divided into distinct functional components (light sources, diffusion plate, optical sheets) that are spatially separated by the distance maintaining portion. This segmentation allows each component to be optimally positioned in the thickness direction, ensuring sufficient space for light distribution while maintaining narrow bezel dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Volume of moving object

If the space for backlight unit components is insufficient due to reduced bezel width, then the device size is reduced, but the brightness uniformity across the display area deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidbrightness uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the thickness direction as an additional spatial dimension to achieve proper component spacing. By extending the distance maintaining portion vertically, the diffusion plate can be adequately separated from optical sheets, ensuring uniform light distribution across the display area without increasing the horizontal device footprint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The distance maintaining portion acts as an intermediary structure between the diffusion plate and optical sheets, ensuring proper spacing and light distribution. This mediator component prevents direct contact and maintains optimal distance for uniform brightness, resolving the contradiction between compact size and brightness uniformity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If components of the backlight unit are crowded due to limited space, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the light distribution uniformity and brightness evenness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidlight distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves component crowding by utilizing the thickness direction for spatial separation. The distance maintaining portion extends vertically to space components, allowing standard manufacturing processes to be used without increasing horizontal complexity, thereby maintaining ease of manufacture while achieving uniform light distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The backlight unit components are segmented and positioned at different locations in the thickness direction rather than being crowded in the horizontal plane. This vertical segmentation maintains simple manufacturing processes while ensuring adequate space for uniform light distribution from light sources through the diffusion plate and optical sheets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration improves brightness uniformity by maintaining even light distribution, ensuring that the brightness at the edges of the display area is comparable to or greater than 78.8% of the maximum brightness at the center, effectively addressing the issue of non-uniformity.

Implementation Method 1

a reflective sheet (400) disposed under the light sources (500)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

a diffusion plate (700) disposed on the horizontal supporting portion (610)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight diffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 3

an optical sheet (800) disposed on the distance maintaining portion (620), the optical sheet (800) further diffusing the light passing through the diffusion plate (700)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight diffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentEP3163363B1Display device having a backlight unit
Publication Date: 2022.08.10 SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO LTD
  • EP3163363B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3163363B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3163363B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A backlight unit includes a bottom cover, a light source, a middle mold, a diffusion plate and an optical sheet. The bottom cover defines a bottom portion and a sidewall portion which is protruded from the bottom portion. The light source is accommodated in the bottom cover. The middle mold is supported by the bottom cover and defines a horizontal supporting portion and a distance maintaining portion extending from a first end of the horizontal supporting portion in a direction perpendicular to the bottom portion. The diffusion plate overlaps the horizontal supporting portion. The optical sheet overlaps the distance maintaining portion and is spaced apart from the diffusion plate.